Colorado-Medical-Marijuana-Blog

When approaching the subject of marijuana clones, one obvious factor in your endeavor is what strain of marijuana you intend to grow from a clone. A marijuana clone (like any other ‘clone’ which is an identical copy from a source –or in this case a ‘mother’ plant’) is a cutting from a marijuana plant used to expand a nursery without needing to grow a new plant from seed. (1)“Cloning is a way of propagating plants through asexual reproduction of the plant by cutting and rooting a healthy shoot. This creates clones. It is also known as ‘taking a cutting’.“

It may seem complicated, but there’s no need to muddy the issue just by adding the word ‘clone’. You’re still dealing with the marijuana plant itself and subject to all the natural ways it grows and also the many different types or strains of the marijuana plant. It still breaks down to an Indica, a Sativa, (also the lesser known ‘cannabis ruderalis’ which refers to landrace strains or those that grow in the wild) or a hybrid of/between the two. (2)“Cannabis strains are either pure or hybrid varieties of Cannabis, typically of C. sativa and C. indica Ruteralis. Varieties are developed to intensify specific characteristics of the plant, or to differentiate the strain for the purposes of marketing it more effectively as a drug. Variety names are typically chosen by their growers, and often reflect properties of the plant such as taste, color, smell, or the origin of the variety” Hybrids bridge the gap between Sativa and Indica and allow for taking advantage of desirable qualities from both ends of the spectrum. (3)“In addition to pure indica, sativa, and ruderalis varieties, hybrid varieties with varying ratios of these three types are common. For example, the White Widow hybrid containing about 60% indica and 40% sativa ancestry. These hybrid varieties exhibit traits from both parental types.”

As is the case when selecting a strain to consume, desired effect is likely the primary influence in the selection of a specific strain. There are also some strains available ONLY as clones, fittingly referred to as ‘clone-only’ strains. However, these ‘clone-only’ stains can be particularly hard to get a hold of, especially in states with less lenient laws on marijuana. (4)“If you don’t live in a medical marijuana or legalized marijuana state like California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, and you’ve heard of clone-only marijuana strains, it’s a little frustrating because usually you can’t get those clones unless you travel to those states and qualify as a permitted clone buyer under the state’s marijuana regulations.” Even if you can find a source for purchasing a clone-only strain -depending on the rarity and popularity of a certain strain- it may well cost a pretty penny to bring it in to your nursery.(5) “A single, legit commercial clone of a top-shelf, clone-only strain like Girl Scout Cookies or Cherry Pie can sell for as much as $140. But ultra-elite cuts shared in the top ranks of marijuana breeders and clone developers can sell for thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars each! Why so expensive? Unlike cannabis seeds, every clone from a premium marijuana plant is guaranteed to be a female cut from a unique motherplant.“

And as with any purchase, it’s very much buyer beware. Unless you’re dealing with an established shop or dispensary (many shops and dispensaries are now offering cuttings/clones as a service to their patrons… ask your budtender!), not only the question of quality and price must be considered... but also (unfortunately) the question of legitimacy. Beyond a visual checklist (several resources can be found online to guide you through the clone buying process like www.marijuanaclonesforsale.com) to double check that you’re purchasing a healthy plant, you’re at the mercy of the seller with regard to whether the strain you desire is truly represented by the little potted cutting you just bought. (6)“When you are looking for clones for sale in Colorado, California, or Michigan, there is no way to know for sure if the clone the person is selling you is really the strain they claim. Unless you are dealing with someone that is deperate for money people are usually honest about what strain they are selling”

A new recreational dispensary has opened this May in Pueblo West, Colorado . The Hashish House welcomes Colorado residents and visitors 21 years of age or older. The Hashish House could be described as "A destination dispensary where patrons might feel as though they have been transported to a Moroccan/American oasis while they shop for a wide array of marijuana and hashish products in an authentic luxury Moroccan tent. The Hashish House bills itself as having one of the largest if not the largest selection of marijuana and hashish concentrates in the state of Colorado and they are located just a few miles from the North Pueblo Reservoir entrance. The Hashish House welcomes Colorado residents and visitors alike to come celebrate at a place where "long held traditions meet new found freedoms"

As the new amendment becomes a reality in Colorado, representatives from the Department of Revenue gather together as a task force to discuss the various issues that will arise under the new marijuana law. Issues such as licensing requirements to whether the state should regulate potency will all be discussed. The task force will have until February 28th to iron out any issues and get something together. Because recreational marijuana in Colorado is a completely new subject, the task force will be setting brand new rules for the state. To make the task less daunting, they will divide themselves into five groups to focus on key issues, including recreational store regulations, types of local regulations cities and counties can impose, employment issues and taxes, criminal law and social issues related to legalization.

Although the state of Colorado has made it legal for adults to possess one ounce or less of marijuana, the individual cities and counties in Colorado are not so keen on following suit. Erie, Lafayette, Superior and Broomfield are all in the process of constructing their own individual laws regarding the drug. Currently, the town of Erie disallows medical marijuana dispensaries in town and officials for Erie, Superior and Lafayette are planning to prepare an ordinance banning retail marijuana stores within town limits. The city of Broomfield plans to vote January 22nd on a first reading of an ordinance temporarily banning marijuana related businesses through 2014 and as of this time, medical marijuana businesses are not allowed within the city limits. Although President Obama stated that the federal government would not be prosecuting individuals in Colorado who are found to possess one ounce or less, law enforcement will still be on the lookout for those driving under the influence.

In the wake of Amendment 64 passing in Colorado, marijuana laws are being scrutinized with a more critical eye. What worked to an extent for medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado in the past will simply not suffice as new businesses begin to take shape on the horizon. Recreational marijuana dispensaries will need to have a new set of regulations to operate by and the Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED) is settling down to the task. MMED spokesperson Julie Postlethwait stated that the division is expecting to hold three public forums to discuss new rules, with the first coming January 11th. Current regulations for Colorado medical marijuana are not always clear, as evidenced by several court cases recently where dispensary owners were charged with growing more plants than the state allows. With a fluctuating client base and the state falling months behind on processing paperwork, dispensary owners have found it difficult to stay in compliance at all times. Spokespeople for the new marijuana initiative are hopeful that the state will be able to work out the kinks by the time the law takes effect in 2014.

The University of Colorado in Boulder has long been the site of one of the largest Colorado Marijuana rallies the state has known, but this year officials at the school are making plans to put a lid on the activities. The passing of Amendment 64 legalizing marijuana in Colorado has added fuel to a fire that officials have been battling for many years and the they fear the disruption to the school will be increasingly worse as time goes on. CU officials feel that the 4/20 smokeout sends a very bad message to young potential students that CU is not a place of research and learning, but a place to have unlimited access to drugs. Officials do not want the image of the school to be one that condones drug use. Instead, they would like for students researching colleges to consider CU as a place of good value, strong academics and a home to Nobel-prize winning scientists. Last year’s smokeout brought roughly 12,000 people, which created an enormous disruption to campus procedures. With this in mind, CU is planning to once again close the campus to visitors as well as shut down the Norlin quad, which is where the rally is normally staged.

Mason Tvert, a strong Colorado marijuana activist, made the news again recently as he credited his many years of careful strategy to the success of Amendment 64 being passed in Colorado this November. Tvert’s past strategies included actions such as crashing a law enforcement conference where he was booed by police officers and staging a news conference outside the Drug Enforcement Agency’s local office along with several cases of beer and a wanted poster with Governor Hickenlooper’s face on it. Tvert admits these strategies were mainly for effect but more to simply raise awareness for marijuana in Colorado. Other efforts included hiring a female Latino spokesperson to appeal to the Latino community. Tvert feels his efforts helped Amendment 64 gain the momentum necessary to give it a strong presence on the ballot in November and feels that the past eight years of effort helped raise awareness in such a manner that people are no longer seeing marijuana in Colorado as an illegal substance, but as more of a profitable business prospect.

Recently, heads of the United Nations Drug Watchdog Agency expressed concern over the passing of the recent Washington and Colorado marijuana laws which decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and over. The U.N. heads are urging federal officials in the U.S. to challenge the recent ballot measure, as they feel this measure sends out a very bad message to both other states in the U.S. as well as to other countries abroad, giving the impression that marijuana possession is acceptable in the U.S. A recent statement by Raymond Yans, the head of the International Narcotics Control Board, to the Associated Press, expr4essed hopes that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will take the necessary measures to ensure that marijuana possession and use continues to remain illegal throughout the U.S. Until officials come to a decision, both Washington and Colorado are holding off on regulating and taxing the drug pending word as to whether the Justice Department will assert federal authority over the recently passed drug laws.

Although the measure was passed on November 6, 2012 to legalize marijuana in Colorado in small quantities, the future of this law is still in question as is the impact it will have on the state. Officials in Mexico are expressing concerns regarding cartels and the pot that is sent from Mexico to the U.S. and Colorado illegally. It is speculated that the passing of this measure will encourage a heavier import of the drug, making work for law officials harder and potentially more dangerous than it already is. According to Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, speculation that the pot measure will increase Colorado ‘pot tourism’ is unrealistic. Although the ease of obtaining the drug will initially attract people, it will be difficult to take the drug out of the state and although marijuana in Colorado is legal, it is still considered illegal under federal law. It is believed that federal officials will be keeping an even closer eye on the drug trafficking activity occurring in the state.

The issue of whether or not marijuana in Colorado should become legal has now spilled into mainstream politics with a fervor and only seems to be picking up speed. Candidates from both sides are working hard to make their opinions known, even going so far as to stand on the steps of the state capitol to hand out flyers. Republicans seem to be pulling ahead as far as favoritism for the bill, while Conservatives and Democrats are showing a stronger preference toward opposing the bill. In Colorado Springs, which has a larger Republican population than any other city in the state, activists stood outside Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan’s rally handing out flyers to inform passing Republicans, stating legalization would be fiscally prudent as it would be able to be taxed, regulated and monitored by the state. Democrats in opposition feel legalization will pose a threat to future generations and feel the bill is not in the best interest of children.